The whole thing draws just 5W and can run Linux or Windows XP, and while NorhTec admit that it’s not up to playing games, it’s certainly swift enough to get you online.  It can do so pretty much silently, too, as it’s fanless and can either be booted from an SD/SDHC card or an IDE hard-drive.  RAM is 512MB and ports include two USB 2.0, serial and audio in/out.

Best of all is the price: NorhTec expect the Linux based Gecko Surfboard to cost just $99 and the Windows XP version to be roughly $150 when they arrive in January 2010.  Not for everybody, no, but if you’re looking for a straightforward way to get online and want a full-sized keyboard, the Gecko Surfboard looks like an interesting possibility.

[via LinuxDevices]

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The color screen of the computer is a 4.3-inch TFT unit with a resolution of 480 x 272. The system is designed for landscape installations and the screen has 65K colors with LED backlighting. The machine is powered by an ARM9 processor with 32kB of cache and 64MB of SDRAM. The OS is Linux, which is pre-installed.

Storage for the machine is to 128MB of NAND flash. Installation costs for the system are reduced thanks to the Power-Over-Ethernet capability of the device. A single CAT5 cable powers the computer and provides connectivity. A hidden SD card reader is integrated and expansion for WiFi and Bluetooth is supported. Overall dimensions are 7″ high x 3.9″ thick x 0.4″ from the wall. The little screen sells for $425 each but has to be ordered in packs of 10.

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With no wireless to consider, the spec list for the EZ Reader is pretty straightforward. The 6 x 4.1 x 0.4 inch device is smaller than the average paperback novel, and just leaves room for a 5-inch 600 x 800 E Ink display and a few rows of shortcut buttons. Onboard storage is 512MB but there’s an SD card slot content with up to 16GB cards (and a USB 2.0 connection to make transferring files straightforward). The underlying OS is Linux, running on a Samsung ARM 9 400MHz processor; it’s certainly nippy enough that any page navigation delay is a side-effect of the e-paper rather than the system itself. Battery on the unit is user replaceable and provides roughly two weeks of reading time.

As you’d hope, there’s a broad range of format support for ebooks (and other files). The EZ Reader will display ADE, PDF, TXT, PDB, DOC, HTML, FB2, LIT, EPUB and PRC ebook files, together with BMP, JPG, TIF, PNG and GIF images, while there’s also a mediaplayer that will load MP3 files and play them in the background as you read. Astak have also built in some fancy text reflowing technology which handles PDF text reasonably well, even when the original document wasn’t really intended for ebook reader use, and there’s text-to-speech which is as clunky as you’d expect (but no doubt interesting to some users).

There’s no QWERTY keyboard or touchscreen, but given you’ll only be using the hardware controls to navigate files already on the EZ Reader, rather than accessing some sort of wireless ebook store, that’s less of an issue. Both right- and left-handed use is accommodated, using either page back/forward keys (on the left) or a scroll-wheel (on the right). At 6oz it’s easy to hold in one hand, and to do so for reasonably extended periods.

What sets the EZ Reader apart from some rivals is in its reading flexibility. Not only does it come with multiple language support – including English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and more – you can install your own fonts to use rather than the default set. At least three zoom levels are available, and the E Ink panel seemed to boast better contrast than Amazon’s second-gen Kindle, with text looking blacker and more defined.

Amazon have spent big money on their Kindle UI, and the shortcomings of the EZ Reader are obvious after even a brief play. Lists are navigated via the numbered keys under the display (you bizarrely can’t use the jog-wheel on the side to scroll through them) and there’s more digging through menus than we’d like. Still, we’re guessing the sort of audience who’ll buy something like this Astak will be slightly more tech-savvy than, say, a Kindle buyer; they’ll need to understand how to side-load content, after all.

It’s easy to knock ebook readers that don’t include wireless connectivity; after all, an integrated 3G hook-up means you’re more than halfway to an eye-catching headline. Still, what it actually means is that there’s no one-click way to wireless spend money at a specific ebook store, and for many users that’s not something they actually want or need. In fact, there are plenty of reasons – cost being just one of them – where relying on the flexibility of side-loading content makes perfect sense.

The Astak EZ Reader doesn’t exactly grab the eye like a Kindle or Barnes and Noble Nook, but it’s reasonably flexible. The display may be compact at 5-inches, but that allows the device as a whole to be particularly portable; after all, just as the best camera is the one you have with you, the best ebook reader is the one you always drop into your bag as you leave the house. Our biggest disappointment is that Astak haven’t done some extra work to bring the price down: at $199 it’s close to Amazon and Barnes and Noble’s ebook reader offerings, and we reckon if the company undercut those by $100 or so then they’d have a decent competitor on their hands.

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Video demo after the cut

Inside the box itself is an ARM Cortex A8 processor, WiFi 802.11n, a serial connection for debugging and console connectivity, USB 2.0 port for the webcam and two servo control ports.  The whole thing measures 10 x 6 x 2 cm and draws 3-5W.

Once set up, you can remotely view what the R/C vehicle is seeing, together with control it, from any internet-enabled computer or even your iPhone.  A limited number of units will be released this year – we don’t yet know pricing – followed by a full launch in 2010.

[via HobbyMedia.it]

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Now that might sound like an awful lot – probably because it is an awful lot – but you can blame the pro-quality servos.  Tyberius used Dynamixels RX-64 and RX-28 units, which come in at $300 and $200 each, respectively; however unlike cheap servos they put out a whopping 1,000 ounces per inch of torque.

We’re not sure what we like most about Giger: his classic Cylon-style eye, mean looking pincers, or how easily he segues from a butch fighting stance to a reasonably camp wave.  Tyberius’ next job is tightening up the dynamic balancing and getting the walking gait more natural; right now Giger looks a little drunk.

Video demo after the cut

[via MAKE]

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“At this time it feels that the Android platform gives it a richer, more consistent foundation with strong support for the ecosystem and developer community” Motorola statement

Motorola co-founded the LiMo Foundation, but their own devices running the Linux-based platform have been rare.  The company has stated that it remains “an active and contributing member”, but their launch of the Motorola CLIQ/DEXT and the rumored plans to produce at least one Android-based device for Verizon have led observers to believe that Android is taking the dominant place in a niche LiMo never quite managed to occupy.

Motorola recently announced that they would cease developing Windows Phones until the release of Windows Mobile 7.  The move is seen as an attempt to stem their dwindling market share, which has proved difficult to maintain following the absence of a best-selling replacement to the RAZR.

[via jkOnTheRun]

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Video demo after the cut

While general consumers will be able to buy the Moblin 2.0 netbook, Dell are really aiming it at Linux developers looking for a native platform to code and test on.  More on Moblin 2.0 and what it includes here.

If, however, you already have a spare netbook you fancy turning over to Moblin 2.0, and don’t want to spend $299 on Dell’s preinstalled offering, the company have your back there, too.  There are download links and instructions to the Moblin Installation Image in their wiki, though it’s worth noting that the build has been created with the Mini 10v in mind and may lack drivers and support for other netbooks.

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Despite that flexibility of choice, the underlying netbook is pretty straightforward.  ASUS have used Intel’s Atom N270 1.6GHz CPU with 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard-drive, together with a 10.1-inch 1,024 x 600 display and 3-cell, 2,200mAh battery.

As for the casing, that gets a new geometric texturing as well as the style of the Seashell series.  No word on pricing as yet, but we’re expecting the no-OS model to come in relatively cheaply, with the Linux version next up (though perhaps still not most popular in terms of sales.

[via NetbookItalia]

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The new X500V comes preloaded with Linux, or openSUSE 11.1 to be exact. The computer itself is based on a dual-core ATOM 330 processor, which runs at 1.6GHz. If you’re looking to buy the base specifications for this little device, then you’ll be getting 1GB of DDR2 memory (which comes with a second DIMM slot, for upgrade options up to 2GB), and 160GB or hard drive space. The machine is 36mm-thick, and is built around a 15.6-inch, 1366 x 768 touchscreen with a 1.3 megapixel webcam, stereo speakers and a microphone in the bezel.

The unit, at its entry-level set up, comes with a Gigabit Ethernet port, as well as 802.11n WiFi. Five USB ports and a VGA output are also present. It’s available now in the UK, in either a black or white variation, and is priced at 511 Euros, or $752. We don’t have any word on an American release date.

[via Register Hardware]

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In describing the differentiation between Nokia Internet Tablets as we’ve known them to-date (the 770, N800 and N810), Jaaksi highlighted the most obvious change as being the UI.  However, the underlying business plan is also different, since the N900 will find gaining public attention – through cellular provider stores – far easier than its non-connected Internet Tablet predecessors.  It also makes good use of that connectivity, supporting OTA (over-the-air) downloads and upgrades for everything bar the cellular radios.  Undecided is whether N900 owners will be able to access OTA updates from Maemo 5 to 6, however.

What may present a headache is courting developers.  While kicking off any new platform can be difficult, Nokia of course benefits from the fact that Maemo 5 is open-source based and could, in theory at least, run desktop Linux apps with only minor tweaking.  However that misses the importance, Jaaksi pointed out, of tailoring the UI to a mobile device.

Throw into the pot that Nokia are already working on Maemo 6, set to launch in around a year’s time, and the fact that the new version will use Qt whereas Maemo 5 uses Gnome.  That could lead to incompatibility issues, or developers ramping up to code for the current release but finding those skills aren’t so useful when the next-gen OS arrives.  While he couldn’t describe the full pathway – likely because it’s still in development – Jaaksi did confirm that they would be working with developers on an upgrade pack that takes apps from 5 to 6.

Jaaksi also confirmed some more minor details about the N900.  It will support USB Mass-Storage mode when plugged into a computer, and while they’re not finished fettling the power settings the aim is a full day’s use per overnight charge.  At launch there won’t be N-Gage or Comes With Music support (the latter since the N900 doesn’t support the Microsoft DRM necessary) either.  Interestingly, the hardware design of the handset followed on from the software, rather than the more traditional way round; Maemo 5 was developed, and then Nokia looked at what hardware they’d need “to let the features shine”.

Uncertain right now is whether earlier Internet Tablets will see upgrades to Maemo 5.  Nokia are looking into it, apparently, but the differences in connectivity, hardware and acceleration in the N900 might make this impossible.  Similarly, the reason for the Booklet 3G using Windows 7 rather than Maemo is the oft-quoted netbook justification that customers generally prefer a familiar OS.

The N900 is certainly looking intriguing, and our hands-on earlier today did nothing to change that opinion.  It’ll hit the market in October, priced at €500 pre-subsidies.

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All day battery life – You’d think at this point this would be a no-brainer. I want my laptop to have the same battery attributes as my phone. Namely, I want it to get to through my longest and hardest working day or two days of casual use. I also want it to do so without the need of an battery the size of something that belongs in my car and doesn’t totally ruin the whole aesthetics of the laptop. Is this that hard? Note, I want real world use. That means the screen lit up brightly, wireless options on and someone actually using the machine. No faux benchmarking tests that don’t bear any resemblance to real world use please.

A Great Star Trek game – Come one. How hard could this be? Star Trek and PCs should have yielded something by now. Why are there no great Star Trek games? Sure, we’ve come close a few times, most notably with the late, great, Bridge Commander but why is it so hard to create a faithful simulation of commanding the Starship Enterprise?

Updated versions of X-Wing and Tie Fighter – Lest you think I’m some kind of Trekkie fanboi, I also want the return of LucasArts’ X-Wing and Tie Fighter. Unlike the Trek franchise, these were fantastic titles that totally captured the spirit and feel of the movies and were some of the best games of all time. Except try to play one under one of today’s “modern” operating systems. It’s time for updated versions that can use today’s PC horsepower and graphics; that could take amazing game play and make it indistinguishable from the movie. Red Five is standing by.

Alternative OS to Mac OS/Windows/Linux – I want something more than what we currently have, which are all essentially derivatives of the stuff that was designed more than thirty years ago at Xerox PARC. It’s all the same metaphor of Windows/Mice/Icons and hierarchical storage that does its best to replicate the old file cabinets I have stored in the basement. Newton OS was truly different from anything that had come along prior, but never had the chance to mature. After all these years, can’t we possibly do something a little better and a bit more interesting and functional? Note, Google’s Chrome OS isn’t what I’m looking for. Conceptually, that’s a step backward as far as I’m concerned to the green screen architecture of the 1970s.

A Really Cool digital watch – Digital watches are great. They’re far more accurate than any analog watch. (the cheapest Timex will keep better time than the most expensive Rolex) but somewhere along the line digital watches got really boring. We used to see amazing, cool designs from companies like Seiko and even Casio. Sadly, choices today are limited to the most basic utilitarian stuff at the low end of the line or a bunch of boring versions of models that haven’t changed in their functionality since 1980. There were a lot of cool experiments with watch technology from Microsoft with their Smart Personal Object Technology and Fossil with their late, great Palm watch. It’s time for something cool to strap on my wrist once more that can do more than just tell time. Two-Way Wrist TV and Phone anyone?

That’s my tech wish list. What are the five things you’d most like to see?

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NEC will be demonstrating their new WiMAX Moblin software at “Wireless Japan 2009″, a three day exhibition kicking off tomorrow.  Back in June, when Intel revealed five Moorestown based MIDs, two of that number prioritized GPS navigation; with integrated WiMAX, such devices could include far greater internet-based information about destinations, PNDs, and other news, together with VoIP communication.

Notebook computers and other mobile devices will also see support from NEC’s involvement, with Intel expecting integrated WiMAX modules to spread.  Intel recently announced a deal with Nokia which will see Moblin supported by the Finnish company’s HSPA/3G wireless products.

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For the person who manages to get things up and running, Peek are promising “a little mini-consulting gig” in order to show them how this new Mobile Linux Peek should go together.  No word on whether that’s a paid position or not, but either way it’s something impressive to go on the CV.

There’s a growing list of links to potentially helpful information over at Peek’s blog, including details on the handheld’s TI Locosto ARM7 processor.  This isn’t even a platform with high entrance costs for developers; Amazon have the Peek listed for just $19.99.

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Google Chrome OS is the Chrome browser running within a new windowing system with an underlying Linux kernel; while we’re yet to see screenshots, the UI is said to be minimal, and most of the user experience takes place on the web.  Google will be leveraging their fresh-out-of-beta Google Apps, while developers will be able to code web-based applications that run not only on Chrome OS but any standards-based browser.

By depending so much on the web for its functionality, Google say Chrome OS won’t suffer the same virus, malware and security update issues traditional platforms experience.  As for overlap with Android, they suggest “choice will drive innovation for the benefit of everyone, including Google.”  Google are already in talks with manufacturers, and the first netbooks running Google Chrome OS are expected in the second half of 2010.  Later on in 2009 they’ll open-source its code.

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Various companies have partnered with Marvell to offer Plug Computers in multiple form-factors.  These range from Axentra, who have a new touch*mediacenter mini designed to store and share digital content, Eyecon Technologies, who are positioning their version as a multi-source UPnP/DLNA aggregator, and CodeLathe, whose TonidoPlug is a home server offering local and remote access to documents, apps and media.  Ionics have taken a more general approach, positioning their Plug Computer as a tiny Linux PC, while ProSyst have integrated OSGI and Java to their version, to enable developers to more easily port existing apps and create new software.  Finally, WebTView have loaded their own software to discover and play internet TV.

The various form-factors include a simple box that closely resembles the original SheevaPlug prototype, together with more streamlined and even circular designs.  Of course, as well as the development device from Marvell themselves, the first retail device based on the reference design is already available, in the shape of the PogoPlug.

According to Marvell, a Plug Computer uses less than one tenth of the power of a regular home server PC.  It supports multiple Linux 2.6 kernel distributions, and is available to developers now for $99.

Press Release:

Marvell Introduces Plug Computing to Europe

SheevaPlug Now Available to Developers in Europe; Ecosystem Partners Commit to Retail Products for Consumers

Santa Clara, CA (June 24, 2009) —Marvell (NASDAQ: MRVL), a leader in storage, communications, and consumer silicon solutions, today announced that developers in Europe can now purchase SheevaPlugTM development kits, outfitted for regional electrical specifications, through www.plugcomputer.org from Ionics EMS, Inc. and Globalscale Technologies. In addition to broadening the outreach to application developers, Marvell is growing the plug computing ecosystem by working with retail vendors such as BUFFALO INC., D-Link, LaCie and Seagate, who plan to launch retail versions of the plug computer for the consumer market.

“The Plug Computer is one of the more amazing technologies that have come out this decade and it has the potential to change the world,” said Rob Enderle Principal Analyst for the Enderle Group. “The open plug platform gives European developers the opportunity to create applications, services, and solutions that are only limited by their imaginations.”

Marvell introduced the Plug Computing initiative to make high-performance, always on, always connected, and environmentally friendly computing readily available for developers and end-users. A Plug Computer is small enough to plug directly into a wall socket and is designed to draw so little power that it can be left on all of the time. Unlike other embedded devices in the home, it contains a gigahertz class processor that is designed to offer PC class performance.

“The wide range of applications created from the open-developer SheevaPlug platform serves both retail product partners and service providers,” said Dr. Simon Milner, Vice President and General Manager of the Enterprise Business Unit, Consumer and Communications Business Group at Marvell Semiconductor.  “We are thrilled to introduce SheevaPlug to the European developer community and look forward to seeing many new applications and new consumer product ideas developed and brought to market.  Moreover, Marvell is delighted to collaborate with retail partners such as BUFFALO INC., D-Link, LaCie and Seagate on delivering new levels of user experience to consumers”

The plug computing ecosystem is rapidly expanding to include a full value chain of product partners, application developers and educational institutions. A full list of ecosystem partners is available at www.marvell.com
About the SheevaPlug Development Platform

The SheevaPlug development platform uses a Marvell KirkwoodTM processor based on an embedded 1.2GHz Sheeva™ CPU equipped with 512 Mbytes of FLASH and 512 Mbytes of DRAM. Connection to the home network is via Gigabit Ethernet. Peripherals such as direct attached storage can be connected using a USB 2.0 port. Multiple standard Linux 2.6 kernel distributions are supported on the SheevaPlug development platform enabling rapid application development. The enclosure is designed to plug directly into a standard wall socket and is designed to draw less than one tenth of the power of a typical PC being used as a home server.

About Marvell

Marvell (NASDAQ: MRVL) is a leader in the development of storage, communications, and consumer silicon solutions. The company’s diverse product portfolio includes switching, transceiver, communications controller, wireless, and storage solutions that power the entire communications infrastructure including enterprise, metro, home, and storage networking. As used in this release, the terms “company” and “Marvell” refer to Marvell Technology Group Ltd. and its subsidiaries. For more information, visit http://www.marvell.com.

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Video demo after the cut

While multitouch can be baked into Linux using the MPX system integrated into X.Org server v7.5, which offers multiple independent pointers at the windowing system level, the ENAC version actually sends events from the OS kernel.  The ENAC code is also more flexible, using general libraries so as to be usable in more Linux versions: co-developer Mohamed-Ikbel Boulabiar expects it to be included in Google’s Android stack.

The upshot of this is that netbooks, nettops and notebooks that have multitouch-capable touchscreens won’t be limited to Windows 7 for their functionality.  Linux’s market share is already down to a small minority of netbook/nettop implementations, and analysts suggested that Windows 7’s arrival could have squeezed that even further.  With native multitouch support, Linux could well fight back against that prediction.  Details on how to download and install the new 2.6.30 version here.

[via UMPC Fever]

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“When Android did work, we found that the user interface was very snappy on relatively low-performance ARM processors, more so than Windows 7 on Atom” Christian Heidarson and Ben Lee, analysts, Gartner

The various Android netbooks and smartbooks demonstrated at Computex 2009 are held up as examples of the development from smartphone to larger device for the platform.  Of course, it’s not only ARM that Android can be adapted for; Acer have been working with a Linux developer in Taiwan to port Android to x86 processors, such as Intel’s Atom, for their upcoming netbook.

Of course, there’s a big leap from snappy performance to an appealing platform, and that’s something that Linux still needs to address for mainstream users.  Sales figures of Windows and non-Android Linux netbooks suggest that buyers are willing to put up with slower performance in return for the familiarity and app-flexibility of Microsoft-based devices.  Internet browsing, while perhaps the netbook’s primary purpose, is not all the budget ultraportables are used for; similarly, the absence of Flash support for ARM processors could prove a major stumbling block for an audience used to streaming video content.

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As standard, both netbooks come with Intel’s N270 1.6GHz processor, 1GB of RAM and an 8GB SSD.  Graphics are via Intel’s GMA 950, and there’s a 5-in-1 memory card slot.  There’s only one display option so far, a 10.1-inch 1024 x 576 panel, though we’d expect to see a 720p-capable screen appear soon, and WiFi b/g and a 3-cell battery are standard.  Upgrade options include:

• Intel Atom N280 1.66GHz – $25
• 2GB DDR2 RAM – $50
• 160GB 5,400rpm HDD or 16GB SSD – $15
• 250GB 5,400rpm HHD – $65
• 32GB SSD – $90
• 64GB SSD – $180
• 6-cell Li-Poly battery – $40

According to HP’s webstore, the Mini 110 will begin arriving at customers on or around June 24th.  If you don’t mind the wait, you’ll have a netbook that early reviews tipped as HP’s best yet.

[via Portable Monkey]

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Video hands-on after the cut

In fact the bottom half of the Pegatron is just a little thicker than a standard VGA port, and it weighs roughly 800g maximum.  There are still USB 2.0 ports, audio in/out and a multiformat card reader, though, and an access panel underneath to get to the standard 4GB SSD; wireless connectivity includes WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G UMTS and GPS.

Build quality is reportedly very good, with a large keyboard with a decent layout and reasonable feedback; sadly the mouse button is only a single button.  There’ll apparently be a second OS choice, Movial, which is billed as an “easy-mode”.  No word on pricing or availability, but if they can match the Wistron N900z’s predicted sub-$200 tag then we’ll be very interested.

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Video demo after the cut

What being a “SocialOS” basically means is that Jolicloud is designed with social networking in mind.  Support for services like Facebook and Twitter is built-in, as are GMail and Skype, bringing access to and updates from those online apps directly to the frontpage of the OS.

In a way it’s a little similar to HP’s Mi OS, available on some of their Mini netbooks, which brings key information such as email and calendar to the frontpage.  However Jolicloud places greater emphasis on social-networking and connected apps.  Apparently this early alpha will be released soon; more details in the video below.

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Video demo after the cut

The OS, in fact, runs Linpus Lite Moblin V2, a fork in the roadmap thanks to Linpus’ ongoing work with Intel’s open-source OS team.  Full details of the platform won’t be revealed until Computex next week, but we’re hoping for some of the flexibility of Linpus and the UI ease-of-use of Moblin.

Otherwise this looks to be a pretty standard netbook, even 3G is becoming more common, and without a price tag it’s hard to figure exactly how it will fit into the established netbook market.  Foxconn are presumably hoping that the distinctive OS will give the SZ901 an edge.

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Video demo after the cut

Otherwise the specs are all pretty mainstream.  The 110 XP gets Windows XP, 1GB of RAM and either a 160GB hard-drive or a 32GB SSD, together with optional WWAN integrated 3G.  The 110 Mi uses HP’s own Linux-based custom OS, with up to 250GB of storage and 2GB of RAM.  Both come with “Syncables Desktop”, which apparently makes synchronizing files, media and other information straightforward between a 110-series netbook and a primary PC.

Finally, the HP Mini 1101 is the serious version of the 110 XP, dropping the Broadcom graphics chip and throwing a choice of XP or Vista into the mixture.  It will be the first to arrive, on June 1st, priced at $329 in gloss black; following will come the Mini 110 XP and Mini 110 Mi, in black swirl, on June 10th priced from $329.99 and $279.99 respectively.  Finally, the Mini 110 XP will get two new color options – pink chic and white swirl – on July 8th, though pricing is yet to be announced.

Press Release:

HP Expands Mini PC Portfolio, Delivering New Designs and Capabilities for People on the Go

PALO ALTO, Calif., May 27, 2009 — HP today expanded the award-winning HP Mini family with three new models, offering customers sleek, lightweight companion PCs that come in a variety of configurations and designs — all small enough to slip into most purses, backpacks or briefcases.

The new HP Mini 110 XP Edition and the HP Mini 110 Mobile Internet (Mi) Edition were designed for Internet-centric consumers to stay connected to what’s important to them, while at home or on-the-go. The Mini 110 provides consumers with a choice of Pink Chic, Black Swirl or White Swirl HP Imprint finishes.

The HP Mini 1101 is ideal as a companion PC for small and medium-size businesses and frequent business travelers. The Mini 1101 offers business users a sophisticated Black Swirl design.

The new Mini models are as stylish as they are mobile, starting at 2.33 pounds and measuring just over 1-inch thick. With a 10.1-inch diagonal standard or optional high-definition LED widescreen display, a keyboard that is 92 percent the size of a standard notebook PC keyboard, and a built-in webcam and microphone, the new HP Minis are designed for consumers and business professionals who surf the web, check email, listen to music and need access to friends, family, co-workers or information while on the go.

“With these new HP Minis, we’re enhancing the customer experience by adding compelling features that allow users to interact with their Mini in a fun way. Our broad portfolio of mini companion PCs truly offers customers choices to fit every need and every personality.”

- Kevin Frost, vice president and general manager, Consumer Notebooks, Personal Systems Group, HP.

HP Mini 110 models include the Syncables™ Desktop solution, which provides effortless, automatic synchronization of music, pictures, videos and other files between an HP Mini and a primary notebook or desktop PC.

Pricing and availability

The HP Mini 110 XP Edition and the Mini 110 with Mi is expected to be available in Black Swirl in the United States on June 10 via www.hpdirect.com/go/mini with a starting price of $329.99 and 279.99 respectively.

The HP Mini 110 XP is expected to be available in Pink Chic and White Swirl in the United States on July 8 via www.hpdirect.com/go/mini, pricing to be determined.

The HP Mini 1101 in high gloss black starts at $329 and is expected to be available June 1.

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The cheaper model is the original UMID Linux machine, with 16GB of SSD storage, the Atom 1.3GHz processor and 512MB of RAM.  That’s priced at $659.42, whereas the XP Home version (which comes with an 8GB microSD card, too) is $765.78.  If you’re outside of Australia then you won’t have to pay GST sales tax; however you may be liable for import duty in your home country, so do some homework before ordering to save yourself a potentially nasty surprise.

Of course, what Justek don’t have is the matte black version of the mbook M1 with the matching black keyboard, spotted earlier this week.  Unfortunately, now that I’ve seen the black version, the white one just wouldn’t cut it.  If you can “make do” with the white, there’s a promotion for free shipping (at time of writing).

[via Pocketables]

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There are also some fresh specifications, including dimensions and weight.  The SmartQ 7 measures 200 x 120 x 24 mm and tips the scales at 0.5kg.  It also has WiFi, Bluetooth and a TV output, and SmartQ claim its rechargeable battery is good for up to 48hrs of continuous music playback.

SlashGear’s old friend Steve Paine has a SmartQ 7 on order from Chinese retailer Electroworld, paying the rough equivalent of $280 including German taxes (19-percent) and shipping.  That’s around the third of the cost of a traditional UMPC such as the Samsung Q1EX, which is one reason why would-be buyers are so intrigued.

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As you might expect, the M100 also has the dimensions to match.  6.2 x 3.5 x 1.1 inches make for a chunky handset, and while it’s a little narrower than the UMID M1 it’s also a lot thicker (the M1 is 0.7-inches thick).  Still, it does pack an integrated cellphone – complete with its own external 2.4-inch QVGA display and controls – and dual cameras.

Ports include two headphone jacks, two miniUSB, a microSD card slot and SIM slot; OS is Midinux.  No word on whether it’ll reach production or, if so, what price we could see it at, sadly.

[via Pocketables]

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There’s also a 1.3-megapixel webcam, Bluetooth 2.0 and WiFi, while the docking “MID Expansion” section adds an ethernet port, USB host port (for using a keyboard or mouse, etc.), VGA output and a headphone socket.  The Zhongyi S101 also has integrated 3G, with a SIM card living underneath the back panel.

Engadget China got some hands-on time with the S101 and came away impressed with build-quality, the range of preloaded apps and the connectivity.  Sadly, while it looks like it’s getting a launch in China, there’s still no sign of any availability in the US or Europe.

[via UMPC Fever]

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Two color schemes are on offer, glossy black or matte merlot-red, and the 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch models have separate numeric keypads.  WiFi is standard, Bluetooth an option, and certain models have HDMI outputs and optional Blu-ray drives, particularly useful with the 14- and 15.6-inch models’ 16:9 aspect widescreen displays.  Graphics are via either Intel GMA X4500HD or ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 chipsets, and HP will even install Novell SuSE Enterprise Desktop 11 if Linux appeals.

Full specifications of the HP ProBook 4415s, 4510s, 4515s and 47610s are available here.  The new notebooks start from around $529.  Our friend Xavier over at Notebooks.com caught up with the new S-Series and shot the following video demo: 

Press Release:

Blending Business Chic with Affordability, HP Unveils HP ProBook Notebook PC Line

PALO ALTO, Calif., April 28, 2009

HP today announced a new brand of affordable notebook PCs that merge business functionality with sophisticated design to stand out from the crowd.

The HP ProBook series joins the award-winning HP EliteBook series to form one of the most versatile business notebook portfolios in the industry. Inspired by minimalism, the design of the new HP ProBook series combines matte and glossy surfaces while stripping out the extraneous, leaving only a stylish and clean look.

Distinguished by a choice of merlot or glossy noir finishes, a unique keyboard design and a set of professional innovations previously found only on higher-priced models, the HP ProBook series delivers HP’s best combination of business features, functionality and value.

“The stunning HP ProBook s-series delivers exceptional style and aggressive pricing that will captivate small and medium business users,” said Ted Clark, senior vice president and general manager, Notebook Global Business Unit, Personal Systems Group, HP. “But it’s not just about good looks or low cost, the HP ProBooks deliver the right blend of features and professional innovations to provide a great user experience.”

The standard series (s-series) of the new HP ProBook models incorporate a mercury-free design, and features high-definition (HD)(1) LED backlit displays in a choice of 14-inch, 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch diagonal widescreen sizes.

The keyboard’s innovative layout provides a visually open and spacious keyboard with keys raised from the surface. Usability is the same as with traditional keyboards and the raised surface means fewer places for dirt and dust to hide making it easy to clean and more maintenance free than ever before.

Select HP ProBook models incorporate the latest in wireless connectivity with HP Mobile Broadband. Built-in Qualcomm Gobi technology enables HP notebooks to use a single module, the HP un2400, to support multiple mobile broadband network technologies and mobile operators.(2) This increases users’ international roaming options and offers greater choice and flexibility in choosing a mobile data plan.

In addition to Microsoft® Windows® operating system offerings, select HP ProBook s-series models will offer Novell SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 preinstalled. SuSE Linux is an easy-to-use open source operating system that gives users the connectivity, usability and features they expect.

HP Professional Innovations included on the ProBook s-series include HP QuickLook 2 software, which provides access to e-mail, calendar, task and contact information within seconds at the touch of a button.(3) The HP SpareKey feature addresses the hassle of forgotten passwords by using a sequence of three predetermined personal identification questions to gain immediate entry into the system.(4) For added data security, File Sanitizer for HP Protect Tools permanently deletes individual files, folders and personally identifiable information from the notebook, which also allows customers to recycle the notebook with confidence that their business data has been removed.

Designed for recyclability, the ProBook s-series has been engineered for reduced impact on the environment by eliminating or reducing substances of concern, using fewer resources and reducing energy consumption.

The entire HP ProBook portfolio holds an Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT®) silver rating and is ENERGY STAR® qualified for energy savings. HP ProBook models configured with the Microsoft Windows operating system include a power management capability to save energy by automatically switching the PC into a low-power mode after a period of inactivity. Energy-saving HP Smart AC Adapters allow the notebooks to automatically make power adjustments as needed. Additionally, more than 90 percent of HP notebook PCs (by weight) are recyclable or recoverable (do not go to a landfill).

Infusing style into everyday business

The HP ProBook s-series includes:

HP ProBook 4410s and HP ProBook 4415s – Feature a 14-inch diagonal 16:9 HD widescreen LED backlight display, integrated optical drive with Blu-ray option(5) and choice of ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 4330 or Intel® GMA X4500 HD graphics controller. Wireless connectivity includes standard Wi-Fi certified WLAN(6) and optional integrated Bluetooth® wireless technology.(5) The notebooks also incorporate an HDMI port to connect to HD displays, and include Intel (4410s) or AMD (4415s) processors to offer a variety of options for mobility and longer battery life.

HP ProBook 4510s and HP ProBook 4515s – Offer a 15.6-inch diagonal 16:9 HD widescreen LED backlight display. Customers can select the optional HP Mobile Broadband connectivity with built-in Gobi technology,(2) while standard Wi-Fi certified WLAN(6) and optional integrated Bluetooth wireless technology(5) round out the wireless connectivity technologies. They also feature an integrated numeric keypad. The notebooks include a choice of Intel (4510s) or AMD (4515s) processors to meet high demands for performance and connectivity and choice of discrete or UMA graphics. There is also an integrated numeric keypad on the 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch models.

HP ProBook 4710s – Features a 17.3-inch diagonal HD widescreen display, the largest of the lineup. For more graphics-intensive environments, the notebook includes the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330, with up to 512 megabytes of GDDR2 for video memory. It also features the latest Intel Core™ 2 Duo processors. Wireless connectivity includes standard Wi-Fi certified WLAN(6) and optional integrated Bluetooth wireless technology.(5) The notebook incorporates a HDMI port to connect to HD displays, as well as an integrated numeric keypad.

The HP USB 2.0 Docking Station is a compatible accessory for the HP ProBook s-series. In just one step, users are connected to their keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer and other accessories, and they are able to get video, audio, network connectivity and up to four universal serial bus (USB) connected devices working at the same time.

Pricing and availability(7)

Estimated starting U.S. street pricing begins at $529. Notebook availability varies by region. Merlot color option is available only on 14-inch and 15.6-inch models and is expected to be available in June. The HP USB 2.0 Docking Station is available now for $139.

HP is extending its recently announced zero percent financing promotions that make it simple and affordable for small businesses to continue investing in the technology that can help them increase efficiency and grow their businesses. Offered through HP Financial Services, the company’s asset management services and leasing subsidiary, the two promotions provide customers the choice to either lease or own products.

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What’s still missing is Netflix support, for either streaming movies or TV shows, which was added to the OS X version of the app back in December 2008.  Hulu functionality is the same pseudo-workaround as added earlier this month, which uses a combination of RSS feeds and an integrated Mozilla-based browser engine to display the streaming service’s content.

Boxee remains a free app, available – in varying states of development – for Linux, Windows, OS X and AppleTV.  Linux users may be able to access this latest version through the Update Manager tool on Ubuntu systems.

[via Slashdot]

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There’s a known-compatibility list here, out of which the most interesting entry so far is probably the Acer Aspire One netbook listing.  The Aspire One is certainly more readily found, either new or second-hand, and so the news that it runs Sugar with no obvious issues is great.

The eventual goal is to be able to give students a working, stable version of their own Sugar environment that they can run on any computer they encounter.  It’s also a great way for those wanting the child-friendly simplicity of OLPC’s software environment on their existing hardware, without spending money on an actual OLPC XO-1 notebook.

[via Twitter]

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MSI themselves have declined to comment on the Android speculation.  They’re reported as having collaborated with the Institute for Information Industry in Taiwan in the netbook’s development; it’s unclear what part the III played.

Similarly unknown is what form the Android netbook might take, whether it will simply be an existing model from the Wind range tweaked to run the open-source Linux OS, or a more complete departure from the current range.  There’s a little over a month of waiting to find out: Computex 2009 kicks off on June 2nd.

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